Simon Cowell 'delighted' to help families

The winner’s single from this year’s X-factor will be in aid of Together for Short Lives - and as a partner of the charity, Gravesend charity chYps will benefit from some of the proceeds raised.

chYps is the children and young people’s service of EllenorLions Hospices and every year provides care to over 200 children and their families.

Simon Cowell said: “I’m delighted that The X Factor winner’s single sales will help families who are going through unthinkably difficult times. The money we hope to raise will really make a difference.”

The song by winner Ben Haenow is available to download now.

Previous X Factor winners who have taken the coveted number one spot include Alexandra Burke, Leona Lewis, Shayne Ward and last year’s champion Sam Bailey.

Syco will donate 100 per cent of its profits from the sale of each CD single and download and also from streaming to Together for Short Lives. This is expected to be at least £1 for each CD and 20p for each download.

Rachel Holweger, director of fundraising at EllenorLions Hospices, said: “We are delighted that the X Factor Winner’s Single is going to make a real difference to the seriously ill babies, children and young people that chYps supports. Too many families struggle to cope with their child’s diagnosis and feel isolated and alone, not knowing who to turn to.

“As a charity, not part of the NHS, we must raise over £1.5 million a year to be able to provide our children’s hospice at home service free of charge to families, so any income raised by the single is gratefully received. We are very grateful to everyone who has kindly donated to chYps in 2014 and we hope people will continue to support us in 2015 so we can reach out to other families facing a terminal illness.”

When a life-limited or life-threatened child needs care, specialist chYps palliative care nurses take the hospice to the child’s home, so the young patient can stay with their mum, dad, brothers and sisters.

This prevents disruptive and lengthy admissions to hospital and enables families to be together through incredibly difficult times.

chYps is Kent’s longest established children’s hospice service and the only charity providing vital end-of-life, cancer and respite care in the homes of poorly children in the county and the London Borough of Bexley.